KUALA LUMPUR – Fugitive financier Low Taek Jho should return to Malaysia and face justice “like a gentleman” instead of seeking foreign clemency, says Malaysian Corruption Watch (MCW) president Jais Abdul Karim.
His comments follow reports that Low, the central figure in the 1MDB scandal, allegedly appealed directly to the Oval Office in an attempt to secure a presidential pardon from United States President Donald Trump.
International reports, including The Wall Street Journal, claim Low has filed a clemency request which, if approved, could effectively remove longstanding US criminal charges connected to one of the world’s largest financial scandals.
A US Department of Justice listing reportedly shows a pending application for a “Pardon after Completion of Sentence” under the name Taek Jho Low.
While the White House has stated the request is not currently on its radar, the final decision lies with President Trump, who has recently exercised his pardon powers in several high-profile white-collar and cryptocurrency-related cases.
US prosecutors allege that Low orchestrated the theft of more than US$4.5 billion from the state investment fund 1MDB. While several alleged accomplices, including bankers and former officials, have faced prosecution, Low has remained a fugitive since 2016 and is believed to be in China.
Commenting on the development, Jais said Low should not be seeking clemency abroad, but return to Malaysia to face justice.
He emphasised that the country’s legal system must be respected, pointing to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s full trial process as an example.
“Najib himself went through a heavy investigation and a long trial, and he went through it like a gentleman,” Jais said when met after speaking on the Scoop Insight podcast here today.
The podcast is expected to be published this coming Monday (May 18).
He added that any consideration of a pardon must come only after due legal process is completed, with the final decision resting with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong under Malaysia’s constitutional framework.
Jais warned against “shortcuts” in justice, saying selective consideration of pardon applications could erode public confidence in the rule of law.
“If we take shortcuts without going through the proper process, it is not fair. We see hundreds of thousands of cases going through the system without any opportunity for pardon, but suddenly, in cases involving very large sums, it appears as though pardon can be easily considered,” he said.
He also cautioned that perceived leniency in high-profile corruption cases could weaken public trust in anti-corruption efforts.
On international cooperation, Jais urged Malaysia’s partners to assist in bringing Low back to face trial.
“The public expectation is clear — that Low be returned to Malaysia, tried fairly in court, and held accountable under the law, with clemency only considered after due process is completed,” he said.
“This is the hope and demand of the public — that he be tried fairly, and that the court’s decision is based on the full judicial process,” he added.
He further stressed that any decision on clemency must come only after the legal process has run its course, noting that such procedures require cooperation from Malaysia’s international partners.
“However, these processes must be assisted by Malaysia’s friendly countries,” he said.
Jais reiterated that justice must not be seen to be bypassed, warning that any deviation from due process could undermine the credibility of the legal system both locally and internationally.
Low, the alleged mastermind of the 1MDB scandal, is accused of orchestrating the misappropriation of billions from the state fund. He has denied wrongdoing through his representatives in past statements. - May 13, 2026
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